With an average of only four sheriff’s deputies on the road at one time to cover 922 square miles, who better to turn to for help than the people in the area? That’s just what former Sheriff Phil Ryan of Wise County in north Texas did.
More than a decade ago, he devised a plan to enlist the help of everyday citizens and the companies they work for in a countywide crime watch program he called “Wise Eyes.”
Devon was the first major corporation to jump on board the program. The company’s involvement serves as one of many community outreach efforts Devon has initiated in communities where it has operations.
“The Wise Eyes program is a valuable tool for deterring crime in the community, and we are proud to partner with law enforcement to help keep our communities safe,” said Kent Chrisman, Devon’s director of security and administration.
Devon has since helped launch the “Wise Eyes” program in more than 30 other counties in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Wyoming and Montana.
Through Wise Eyes, sheriffs can train neighborhood watch groups and others in the community to watch for and report suspicious activities.
Devon provides training materials, incident report forms and bumper stickers to heighten local awareness. In addition, Devon employees, who spend hours each day traveling county roads, are among the many Wise Eyes volunteers.